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Senate committees advance DOH bill to exempt certain positions from civil service
Summary
A joint Senate committee advanced HB 15‑41 after Department of Health witnesses said specialized security and investigator roles require trauma‑informed training; the union HGEA opposed the bill, saying it would erode merit hiring and union protections.
A joint hearing of Senate committees on March 25 advanced HB 15‑41, which would exempt specified positions at the Department of Health from civil service hiring rules. Courtney Matsu, deputy director of the Behavioral Health Administration, told the committees the requested exemptions apply to roles in DDD and the Hawaii State Hospital that require specialized training and experience to serve vulnerable patients; she said all eleven positions the department requested are currently funded and that an earlier on‑site incident prompted the change.
"Each position requires the training,…
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